Method and apparatus for grouping and handling a plurality of webs

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for grouping narrow slit webs of a wide web and for moving such grouped webs along separate web paths from a web slitter to a work station. In operation, a slit web is engaged between two opposed movable supports bearing a plurality of spaced conical spools. The supports are so relatively aligned that the spools of one support may enter into the spaces between the spools on the other support. By further aligning the supports with respect to the slit webs, a spool on the first support is operable to guide a slit web into a space between two adjacent spools on the second support, and a spool on the second support similarly guides another slit web into a spool space on the first support. A slit web is held within a spool space by a wedging action applied between the spools that define such space. In this manner, each support is operable to grip and hold a plurality of slit webs for movement in a grouped relationship to a work station.

United States Patent [1 1 Brandon et al.

[111 3,847,319 [4 1 Nov. 112, 197d [22] Filed:

[ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GROUPING AND HANDLING A PLURALIT OF WlElBS[75] Inventors: Kenneth 1 Brandon, Webster;

Thomas .11. lPereonti, Rochester, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, NY.

Dec. 27, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 428,937

[52] US. (ll 226/4, 226/53, 226/91, 226/109 [51] llnt. Cl D65h 23/30[58] Field oli Search 226/53, 91, 92, 109, 110, 226/4; 83/102, 107, 154

Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Assistant E.\'aminerRandolph A. ReeseAttorney, Agent, or Firm-K. D. Fosnaught [57] ABSTRACT A method andapparatus for grouping narrow slit webs of a wide web and for movingsuch grouped webs along separate web paths from a web slitter to a workstation. In operation, a slit web is engaged between two opposed movablesupports bearing a plurality of spaced conical spools. The supports areso relatively aligned that the spools of one support may enter into thespaces between the spools on the other. support. By further aligning thesupports with respect to the slit webs, a spool on the first support isoperable to guide a slit web into a space between two adjacent spools onthe second support, and a spool on the second support similarly guidesanother slit web into a spool space on the first support.

A slit web is held within a spool space by a wedging action appliedbetween the spools that define such space. In this manner, each supportis operable to grip and hold a plurality of slit webs for movement in agrouped relationship to a work station.

9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures $847319 PATENTEDHUVIZ I874 sum 1 0f 3 FIG 3Sim ME 3 9847 METHOD AND APPARATUMFOR GROUPING AND HANDLING APLURAlLllTY OF WEBS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to web handling and, more particularly,to methods and apparatus for grouping and retaining in grouped relationa plurality of narrow slit webs for movement between work stations. Morespecifically, the web handling method and apparatus of this invention isparticularly adapted for use with web slitting and rewinding devicesadapted to handle various types of thin resilient strips of flexible webmaterial.

2. Description of the Prior Art core-mounting apparatus. To providespace for such operation, adjacent slit webs are commonly separatedbefore being wound upon the cores. It is well known to separate the slitwebs into at least two web paths, that terminate at the rewind cores.Typically, the work station at which the winding cores are positioned isspaced away from the unslit web and the slitting apparatus to allow theoperator convenient and safe access to the winding apparatus. This isparticularly necessary if the slitter is adjustable for slitting the webinto narrow slit webs of desired width. In this situation, the operatormust have access to the winding apparatus to change quickly the windingcores. Also, the winding cores must be positioned so as to allowsufficient room for the winding thereon of long webs which, when wound,produce rolls of relatively large diameter. Moreover, where the operatoris expected to remove the wound slit webs from the rewind shafts andmake ready the re wind shafts for the next group of slit webs, it isimperative to provide enough space for the operator to work in safety.These considerations dictate the relative spacing of the rewind coresaway from the unslit web.

and the slitter knives.

Periodically, during operation of a slitting machine, the operator mustmanually present the leading edge of a slit web to a Winding core.Typically, this occurs when the machine is initially startedup. Theoperator then gradually advances the newly cut slit webs out of theslitter and onto the floor between the slitter and the windingapparatus, manually lays out and arranges the newly cut slit webs forwinding, and one byone presents the leading edges of the newly cut slitwebs to the winding cores. Thenthe machine is restarted and wind ingproceeds.

I This activity can become unduly burdensome for the operator,particularly if the slit webs are extremely narrow and numerous. Therethread operation can become quite time consuming, especially if theslitting is done under adverse conditions. In slitting sensitizedphotographic film, for example, the slitting room is kept in extremelyweak light or, frequently, in total darkness. It is not hard tovisualize the difficulty involved in handling a large number ofextremely narrow strips under these conditions. Nonetheless, theconventional approach is still to individually and by hand sort out, andpresent the slit webs to the winding cores. The disadvantages of such anapproach are obvious.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To facilitate the displacing and moving of aplurality of slit webs from a single web path at a web supply alongdiscrete web paths to a web takeup, the invention provides for l) amethod of grouping a large number of flexible resilient slit webs andmoving these groups along differing web paths from a web supply to a webtakeup whereon the slit webs are presented to winding cores, (2) a webhandling apparatus including first and second movable supports withspecial retaining elements thereon for separating a large number of slitwebs into two distinct groups, such supports being adapted to engageandhold, respectively, first and second groups of slit webs for movementalong separate web paths extending from the wide web in the vicinity ofthe slitter to the winding apparatus.

Cast in the environment of a system for slitting a wide web, say ofphotographic film, into a number of very narrow slit webs ofpredetermined .widths, the invention facilitates the sorting out andwinding of such narrower webs into individual rolls at a web takeup. Theinvention is particularly adapted for use in a system which normallyrequires the manual steps of separating and arranging large numbers ofvery narrow slit webs for rewinding; moving the slit webs into positionfor rewinding; and then manually presenting these very narrow slit websto the rewind cores at the web takeup for rewinding into rolls. Thisinvention is of particular value in a system for slitting a sensitizedwide web, wherein light either may not strike the web or, underprescribed conditions, only minimal amounts of light of a certaincharacter may be exposed to the web.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to facilitate theseparation of a large number of very narrow slit webs into smallergroups and to move the leading ends of each group of slitwebs alongrespective web paths to a working position at the web takeup.

Another object is the provision of apparatus for quickly and efficientlymoving a large number of very narrow slit webs from a position adjacentto a set of slitter knives to a position near a plurality of windingcores.

Another object is the provision of apparatus which sorts a large numberof very narrow slit webs into groups in order to enable the operator tofasten the slit webs to corresponding-groupsof winding cores. 7

Another object is the provision of apparatus for grouping and holding alarge numberof slit webs, moving such groups of slit webs along separateweb paths, and presenting the slit webs at the termination of each webpath for winding on a plurality of respective rewind cores mounted onrewind shafts.

Another object isthe'provision of apparatus to assist the slit teroperator as mentioned hereinbefore, but especially under slittingconditions of adverse light or no light at all. I

The invention, and its objects and advantages, will become more apparentin the detailed description of the preferred embodiments presentedbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the detailed description of thepreferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference charactersindicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of thedrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view taken along line 5 of FIG. 4 and depicting a slittingsystem and web handling apparatus wherein a plurality of flexible slitwebs are being guided into position between the opposed supports of theinvention;

FIG. 2'is a partial view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing thesupports separated after having been brought together and into contactwith the slit webs;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing thesupports moved from the web supply to the web takeup;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 through 3 withsegments of the web and of the web winding apparatus broken away;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the web handlingapparatus of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 2showing the supports retaining the slit webs;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the two supports ofthe invention in a partially mated position;

FIG. 8 is a verticalsection on line 8-8 of FIG. 12;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Because slitters and windingmechanisms are well known, the present description will be directed inparticular to elements forming part of, or cooperating more directlywith, the present invention. Slitter and winding elements notspecifically shown or described are understood to take various formswell known to those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a wide web It) is unreeled from a supplyroll 12 andconveyed past a configuration of slitter knives generallydesignated as M. While there is no special form of slitter I4 necessaryto practice the invention, the invention may be adapted to accommodateweb slitting operations performed at predetermined uniform intervals ofvarious widths across the width of web 10. For this purpose, theslitters 14 may be a plurality of rotary cutting wheels 13 mounted onand axially positionable along a drive shaft 16 which is rotatablymounted in a pair of supporting plates 115 and I7 and driven by suitablemeans P. For illustrative purposes, only six slit webs l8, 19, 20, 21,22, and 23, which may be of any selected width, are shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 1, the leading ends of the slit webs are shown disposed betweenan upper support 28 and a lower support 30. Upper support 28 is mountedby suitable linkage 36, 36' for rotation about pivot points 32 and 34 inplates and 17. Upper support 28 carries an associated pressure bar 40(which is partially broken away in FIG. 4) so that when the slitteroperator applies a downward pressure upon bar 40, motion is imparted tothe upper support 28, which travels an arcuate distance (see FIG. 2)around pivot points 32 and 34 until upper support 28 contacts the lowersupport 30. The lower support 30 is mounted adjacent the terminal end ofa web-supporting shelf 42 located between plates 15 and 17. Lowersupport 30 may desirably be recessed sufficiently with respect to theshelf 42 (see FIG. 5) to allow the leading edges of the slit webs topass slightly above lower support 30 without stubbing or catching onsuch support.

Upper support 28 carries a plurality of frusto-conical spools 66. Suchspools are so mounted that the spaces between the bottom surfaces ofadjacent ones of spools 66 are slightly narrower than the widths of theslit webs to be operated upon. Similarly-spaced spools 65 are mounted onlower support 30 and in registry with the spool spaces of upper support28. The unique features of spools 65 and 66 and their operation willbe'discussed in more detail hereinafter.

Sets of parallel guide rails are provided in which the supports may beplaced for conveyance to the web winding station. Upper support guiderails 46 and 48 are pivotable about points 54 and 56 between a raised,inoperative position (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4) and a lowered, oroperating, position (FIG. 3). Guide rails 46 and 48 are positionable bysuitable linkages generally designated as 62 and 64, respectively, incombination with drive means P. A pair of lower support guide rails (ofwhich only rail 50 is shown) are also provided. Such lower rails aresimilar in construction and operation to upper rails 46 and 48 and arepivotably mounted for movement between operative (FIG. 3) andinoperative (FIG. 2) positions by means such as linkage 55.

In typical web threadup procedure, the slit webs are slowly andcarefully run through slitter 14 (in a process hereinafter referred toas jogging) until they rest on shelf 42 in side by side relationship anddisposed between the lower support 30 and the upper support 28 (see FIG.1).

FIG. 2 illustrates (in phantom) the movement of the upper support 28into cooperative relationship with lower support 30 after the slit webshave been jogged into position. By the co-action of spool sets 65 and66, alternate slit webs are engaged and retained upon the respectivesupports, that is to say: even-numbered slit webs (18, 2t) etc) areengaged by support 28, and odd-numbered webs (I9, 21 etc) by support 36.

After the slit webs have been engaged by their respective supports 28and 30, support 28 is pivoted upward into its raised position (FIG. 2)in preparation for conveyance of the webs to the web winding station.Such station may advantageously comprise a plurality of web windingcores arranged, in a manner known in the art, in two groups, or rewindbanks. The cores 7] of the upper rewind bank are suitably mounted inaxially spaced relation so as to be individually aligned with therespective slit webs associated with the upper support 28. The cores '73of the lower bank are aligned with the slit webs of the lower support 36and are, accordingly, axially offset with respect to cores 71, as shownin FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 illustrates upper support 28 and its retained web strips aftersuch support has been moved along a first web path toward theupperrewind bank 71l. Upper support 28 is guided along such web path by guiderails 46 and 48, which have been swung into their operative position bymeans hereinbefore described.

Similarly, lower support 30 with its associated retained webs is shown(FIG. 3) moved along a second web path toward the lower rewind bank 73.Lower support 30 is constrained to travel along the second web path bythe lower support guide rails which have been raised to their operativeposition. In each case, rollers 82 (see FIG. 5) at opposite edges ofsupports 28 and 30 ride on their associated guide rails to convey thesupports therealong under gravitational influence. When supports 28 and30 are moved to the ends of their respective web paths, theeven-numbered slit webs are positioned at the upper winding bank, .andthe oddnumbered slit webs at the lower winding bank 73. The slit websmay then be manually released from the supports 28 and 30 andtransferred to their associated winding cores. Thereafter, supports 28and 30 may be removed from the guide rails and stored until neededagain. Alternatively, they may be returned to the positions shown inFIG. 1, or they may remain in .the positions shown in FIG. 3.

If the supports are not to remain in the FIG. 3 positions, upper guiderails 46 and 48 are raised and lower guide rails are lowered to theirrespective inoperative positions shown in FIG. ll. Slitter 14 thencommences slitting wide web from supply roll 12 for direct winding ontothe rewind cores.

The structure and: functioning of spools 65 and 66 are shown in FIGS. 6through 11. FIG. 6 shows, in perspective, supports 28 and 30 inretaining relationship with their associated slit web groups. FIG. 7shows a detail of the upper support 28 partially mating with lowersupport 30 prior to the webs being positively engaged by the supports.In the positionillustrated, spools 66 on support 28 are beginning tomate into the spool spaces between spools 65 on support '30, therebytending to force the odd-numbered webs into engagement between spools65. Simultaneously, the individual spools 65 on support 36 arecommencing to force corresponding even-numbered slit webs into thespaces between adjacent spools 66 on the opposing support 28.

For purposes of gripping the slit webs, each spool 65 and 66 has aprotruding land 84 which can best be seen in FIG. 10. It will be notedthat the distance (the spool space) between the bases of the lands ofadjacent spools 66 is (see FIG. l2) less than the width of the slit web(when in a flat, unflexed condition) to be accommodated by the space.The same dimensional relationship exists between two adjacent spools 65and an associated odd-numbered. slit web. In each instance, however, aspool space is wider (see FIG. 12) than the distance across thetruncated end of the spool with which it mates. As a result, completemating of the supports 28 and 30 causes the slit webs to so flex as tobecome wedged under the lands 84 as shown in FIG. 9. Resiliency of thewebs in cooperation with the protruding lands 64 prevent the slit websfrom regaining their original position and serves to hold them flexedand in place after supports 28 and 30are separated and thereafter whilethe supports 28 and 30' are moved along the guide rails. Thereupon theslit webs can be manually .snapped out of their wedged positions by aslitter operator and presented to the winding cores 7E and 73.

' the space between adjacent spools 65 or 66 which space is less thanthe lateral width of the slit web itself when in a flat, unflexedconfiguration. Typically, the slit webs possess sufficient resilientenergy to return to their original unflexed condition upon cessation ofthe lands 84 so that the slit webs remain tightly in place between thespools. Ordinarily, the distance between spools and the precise locationandsize'of the lands are related to the width, thickness, elasticity,and springiness of the slit web material and may be appropriatelyadjusted in accordance with such characteristics of the web's. Forexample, apparatus of the invention is adapted for use with webmaterials, such as photographic films, which are capable of generallyrecovering their size and shape after at least a minimal cross sectionalbending deformation. Particularly in the case of upper support 28, theweight of the web is also a consideration so that gravity will not aloneovercome the constraining forces mentioned herein.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 8, support 28(and, similarly, support 30) is formed into a channel shape withlongitudinal parallel side walls 27 and a base wall 29. Spools 66 arefastened to base 29 and disposed between walls 27. Accordingly,

an engaged slit web 18 is caused to pass over one side wall 27, downtoward wall 29 and under land 84, thence up and over the opposite sidewall 27. The longitudinal bending of the slit web in. theabove-described manner in combination with the lateral web flexingcaused by the web being wedged between adjacent spools results in theweb being curved'about two axes thatare generally perpendicular to eachother, thereby imparting a generally spherical curvature to the web inthe area of its engagement by the support. Such compound bending hasbeen found to enhance the grasping effect of the support to provide morereliable web retention.

To facilitate the handling of the edgemost slit webs, or selvedge ill,FIG. 7 (and FIG. Illl) shows a piercing member 86 on support 36.Positioned opposite member'66 is a receiving block 66 on support 28 witha receptacle cavity 90 therein. Piercing member 86 is positionedrelative to cavity 96 such that when support 28 is fully mated withsupport 36, the piercing member 86 enters cavity 90. If, as in FIG. 7, aselvedge ill of wide web 10 is located between piercing member 86 andcavity 90, then when support 28 is mated with support 30 the piercingmember 86 will penetrate and pass through selvedge 11; Due to the barbedsurface 92 of piercing member 86 shown in the enlarged view in FIG. ill,the selvedge II will be retained under the barbs 92 when support 28 isseparated from support 30. The selvedge ll can then be retained alongwith slit webs 21 and 23 to pass along the web path to rewind bank 73.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

We claim:

1. A web handling apparatus for separating a plurality of flexible,resilient slit webs into discrete groups for movement along separate webpaths, said webs extending generally parallel to one another and lyinggenerally in a common plane, said apparatus comprising:

a. first and second opposed support members located transverse to saidwebs on opposite sides thereof;

b. means for providing relative movement of said support members so thatsaid members are brought together at the plane of said webs;

c. said first support including retaining means for engaging and holdinga first group of said webs. when said support members are broughttogether; and

d. said second support including retaining means for engaging andholding a second group of said webs when said support members arebrought together, said second group of webs being distinct from saidfirst group of webs.

2. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim I,

which further comprises:

guiding means on each of said supporting members for urging the websagainst the opposite supporting member, such that the webs are held bythe retaining means of that supporting member.

3. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the guidingmeans comprises a plurality of projections secured to said supportingmembers, the projections being spaced apart along said supportingmembers such that the projections on said first supporting member willguide said second group of said webs into the spaces between projectionson said second member and conversely, the projections on said secondmember will guide said first group of said webs into the spaces betweenprojections on said first member.

4. A web handling apparatus as claimed in' claim 3 in which theprojections further comprises projections of a tapered, conical shape.

5. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which saidretaining means comprises a ridge located on each of a plurality of saidprojections for holding a said web so that the edge of that web iswedged under the ridge.

6. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which saidretaining means further comprises a plurality of piercing members forpenetrating the surfaces of selected ones of said webs, each of saidpiercing members having a barbed surface located on each of a pluralityof said projections to restrain removal of said web from said piercingmember.

7. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which each of saidsupporting members comprises a bar having a longitudinal channeltherein, said retaining means comprising means positioned inside saidchannel.

8. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, which furthercomprises a means for moving said first opposed support member with saidfirst group of webs along a first web path and said second opposedsupport member with said second group of webs along a second web path.

9. A method of separating a plurality of fiexble resilient webs intofirst and second groups and moving these groups along two web paths froma web supply wherein the webs are positioned parallel to one another insubstantially a single planar web path to a web takeup wherein webs arepositioned in two displaced preselected web positions lyingsubstantially in two planar web paths, said webs being held on first andsecond opposed support members bearing opposed retaining projections forholding said webs, which method comprises the steps of:

a. guiding the leading sections of the webs from the web supply alongthe single web path between th first and second support members;

b. bringing thesupport members into contact with the webs therebetween;

c. mating together the opposed retaining projections on first and secondsupport members;

d. retaining the first group of webs on the first support member and thesecond group of webs on the second support member;

e. displacing first support member from second support member; and

f. moving the first and second support members along the two web pathsfrom the' web supply to the web takeup-

1. A web handling apparatus for separating a plurality of flexible,resilient slit webs into discrete groups for movement along separate webpaths, said webs extending generally parallel to one another and lyinggenerally in a common plane, said apparatus comprising: a. first andsecond opposed support members located transverse to said webs onopposite sides thereof; b. means for providing relative movement of saidsupport members so that said members are brought together at the planeof said webs; c. said first support including retaining means forengaging and holding a first group of said webs when said supportmembers are brought together; and d. said second support includingretaining means for engaging and holding a second group of said webswhen said support members are brought together, said second group ofwebs being distinct from said first group of webs.
 2. A web handlingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, which further comprises: guiding meanson each of said supporting members for urging the webs against theopposite supporting member, such that the webs are held by the retainingmeans of that supporting member.
 3. A web handling apparatus as claimedin claim 2 in which the guiding means comprises a plurality ofprojections secured to said supporting members, the projections beingspaced apart along said supporting members such that the projections onsaid first supporting member will guide said second group of said websinto the spaces between projections on said second member andconversely, the projections on said second member will guide said firstgroup of said webs into the spaces between projections on said firstmember.
 4. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which theprojections further comprises projections of a tapered, conical shape.5. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which saidretaining means comprises a ridge located on each of a plurality of saidprojections for holding a said web so that the edge of that web iswedged under the ridge.
 6. A web handling apparatus as claimed in claim5, in which said retaining means further comprises a plurality ofpiercing members for penetrating the surfaces of selected ones of saidwebs, each of said piercing members having a barbed surface located oneach of a plurality of said projections to restrain removal of said webfrom said piercing member.
 7. A web handling apparatus as claimed inclaim 6, in which each of said supporting members comprises a bar havinga longitudinal channel therein, said retaining means comprising meanspositioned inside said channel.
 8. A web handling apparatus as claimedin claim 7, which further comprises a means for moving said firstopposed support member with said first group of webs along a first webpath and said second opposed support member with said second group ofwebs along a second web path.
 9. A method of separating a plurality offlexble resilient webs into first and second groups and moving thesegroups along two web paths from a web supply wherein the webs arepositioned parallel to one another in substantially a single planar webpath to a web takeup wherein webs are positioned in two displacedpreselected web positions lying substantially in two planar web paths,said webs being held on first and second opposed support members bearingopposed retaining projections for holding said webs, which methodcomprises the steps of: a. guiding the leading sections of the webs fromthe web supply along the single web path between the first and secondsupport members; b. bringing the support members into contact with thewebs therebetween; c. mating together the opposed retaining projectionson first and second support members; d. retaining the first group ofwebs on the first support member and the second group of webs on thesecond support member; e. displacing first support member from secondsupport member; and f. moving the first and second support members alongthe two web paths from the web supply to the web takeup.